Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Fall in the Foothills

I heard they are loved by hummingbirds, but the hummers we have haven't figured that out yet. O.o

I've watched this Eastern Kingbird catch insects all summer long. He's very wary so this is as close as I could get. Click his name to hear the different songs he sings.

In other bird news, I had arranged to get a new flock of chickens, but sadly it didn't work out.

Goodman and I will have to make do with these two gals until spring unless I find someone locally with hens for sale. That's not likely this time of year.

Our burning bushes are beginning to show a little color. It's still warm here and we're having wonderful fall temperatures daily.

I've been busy gathering walnuts from our tree that grows along the fence line in the pasture.

My workstation isn't very glamorous...I stand under the deck and place the walnuts, one-at-a-time on a brick then give them a few good whacks with the rubber mallet to loosen the hulls.

Then lay them out to dry for a few weeks before the real cracking of the hard shell begins. O.o They are a bit of work, but the flavor is unmatched in the nut world for me.

Yes, it's a messy business but rewarding in every aspect. I'm saving the hulls to make a stain for baskets and furniture. Works great.

Our bluebird family of five shows up every day around 5 o'clock for a bath, usually about the time we sit down to supper. I call that great dinner theater.

Yesterday I made Hungarian Cabbage Rolls. The roll (green) is under the chopped cabbage, sauerkraut and tomatoes. It was so I good I, actually, had a bowl of the vegetables with broth earlier for breakfast. O.O That. Was. Good.

What a nice shade of green on your back yard! I am sure those walnuts are tasty. My grandma used to break our almonds' shells on a similar workstation and they were the best almonds in the world for us.Enjoy your fall season!

Love your pictures, Toni. Feel like I've been there, in your lovely outdoors! I was aware that the park is closed, and just as upset as you all about it. It sure isn't right. I grew up in NH where foliage season was very important. I'll refrain from saying more. Hope it is opened soon. Enjoy your walnuts! Joyce

I think you did a good job with that kingbird. I've never gotten a good photo of one.

The video said the state was looking into providing funds to open the park. It seems as if that would be a good move since tourism is so important to that area. I know they'll get some of our money if they reopen it. :)

Hi Toni! I just loved this update and seeing your bird pictures. i especially loved seeing the walnuts (Granny would go crazy and want to take them all for her barrel of stain!!) LOL! i hope you find some chickens.

I've got a few black walnuts waiting to be shelled but I'm not sure I'm going to do it. I might just let the wildlife have them. They gathered all of them last year before I could get to them. Nothing like a black walnut, though!

Toni,The inspiration to do the visual journal really came from your wonderful blog. You really are keeping a fabulous journal of the all the treasures from the Lord. Isn't He good?...no matter what!Love your bluebird dinner theatre!!!Hugs coming your way, Toni. You are such a sweet friend :)

Thank you for sharing about the walnut picking for Make Your Own Herbal Monday! Your work station looks like many of mine :) This week we are looking for Housecleaning Recipes and The Laundry Room recipes if you have any to share :) Have a wonderful week! ~ JES

Hi! I just added a video of making fried green tomatoes to my post (as an after thought). Is this how you do it? We did it once and loved them, but we didn't dredge them in flour before the egg and seasoned coating.

I always wanted to know what to do with those nuts! Thanks for sharing on Wildcrafting Wednesday but please post our link to the blog hop - http://bellavistafarm.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/wildcrafting-wednesday-30/

If you boil those hulls in just enough water to cover, you will have great dye-stuff. Add a little splash of vinegar to the mix to keep it from 'growing' and it will last a long time. It makes a beautiful natural wool and a primitive looking tea dye.Smiles,JoeyLea

Interesting post - lots of hard work for those lovely black walnuts - must be all worth it. Thanks for sharing on Wildcrafting Wednesdays and congrats on being featured this week! I hope you'll join us again and share more of your awesome posts in the future.http://www.herbanmomma.com/2013/10/wildcrafting-wednesday-10-23-13